Ex-deputy sheriff pleads not guilty in botched raid that left toddler critically injured

ATLANTA – A former Habersham County deputy sheriff has pleaded not guilty to providing false information to get a warrant, which led to a botched raid that critically injured a toddler.

Attorney Jeff Brickman told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday (http://on-ajc.com/1Mt9L2u ) that Nikki Autry never intentionally misled the judge who signed a no-knock warrant. During the raid, an officer threw a flash grenade into a home.

Authorities have said 19-month-old Bounkham Phonesavanh (BOON'-kahm fohn-SAH'-vahn) was critically injured when the device landed in his playpen.

Prosecutors have accused Autry of using inaccurate information from the roommate of an informant and telling a judge in an affidavit that the information used to get the warrant came from a trusted source.